Air space forms for poured concrete walls



Nov. 29, 1966 c. D. LINDEN AIR SPACE FORMS FOR POURRD CONCRETE WALLS 2 SheeLS-Sheet l Filed April '7, 1964 C/n D. Linden Nov. 29, 1966 c. D. LINDEN AIR SPACE FORMS FOR POURED CONCRETE WALLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 22 Filed April 7, 1964 C//n 0. Linden United States Patent O 3,288,423 AIR SPACE FORMS FOR POURED CONCRETE WALLS Clint D. Linden, 503 E. Oak St., Centerville, Iowa Filed Apr. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 357,991 9 Claims. (Cl. 249-34) The present invention is generally concerned with poured concrete walls, and more specifically it relates to the means and method -for forming hollow cores or air spaces within poured concrete walls.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide means for increasing the heat insulating properties of poured concrete walls by the provision of insulating air spaces therein.

Another significant Iobject of the instant invention is to provide air space forms which, in conjunction with wall forms, are capable of forming a poured concrete wall wherein no transverse passage therethrough is possible without encountering one of the formed air spaces.

Also, a significant object of the instant invention is to provide an air space for-m which is uniquely formed so as to enable its withdrawal from the partially set concrete without requiring a collapsing of the form along with the complex mechanisms associated with the convention- -ally provided collapsible forms.

Likewise, it is an object of the instant invention to provide means for positioning a plurality of the core forms, including means for receiving and stabilizing the lower ends of the forms and means for interlocking the upper ends of the forms.

Furthermore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide for the forming of a concrete footing particularly adapted for receiving the lower end of the air space forms. i

In addition, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a novel method for the forming of a poured concrete wall.

Also, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a form for an air space or core which, though relatively simple in structure, is of a highly rigid nature capable of repeated use.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also an object of the instant invention to provide `a form for -a wall air space wherein handling of the form is greatly facilitated due both to the relatively light weight thereof and the possibility of telescopically stacking the forms.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and `operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is `a side elevational view of the air space or core form of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the form of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational section through a poured concrete wall illustrating an intermediate step in the removal of the air space forms with one form `being completely removed, one partially removed and the third still in position;

FIGURE 4 is a top plane view of the portion of the wall illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 5-5 in FIGURE 3 and illustrating the `wall with the various forms still in position;

FIGURE 6 is a View similar to FIGURE 5 however illustrating the wall with the forms removed;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view illustrating the manner in which the upper ends of the space forms are releasably interlocked;

FIGURE 8 is a partial sectional perspective illustrating the manner in which the wall footing is to -be formed so as to receive the lower ends of the space forms; and

FIGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view of the top of the footing -and the template utilized in conjunction therewith so as to form the recesses which receive the lower ends of the space forms.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the air space form utilized in the construction of a hollow core wall 12. This form 10 consists of an elongated hollow tube 14 having a smooth uninterrupted outer surface. The tube 14 is oval in cross secti-on so as to achieve both a high degree of rigidity and an elongated cross section such as would be necessary in relatively narrow poured concrete walls, especially when arranged in a manner which shall be described presently. In addition, each oi' the tubes 14 is tapered from its upper end 16 to its lower end 18 in lboth a width and depth as will be appreciated from FIGURES 1 and 2. The lower end 18 of each of the tubes 14 is provided with a depending tapered extension or foot 20 which may :be either hollow, as in the tube 14, or solid. The upper end 16 of each tube 14 includes four bosses or projections 22 extending transversely therefrom, two of these projections 22 projecting laterally from one of the wider faces of the tube 14 while the other two projections 22 project from the opposite side edges of the tube 14 as will be readily apparent from the drawings. These bosses or projections 22 are each provided with an elongated bore therethrough, this bore also extending through the tube 14 to which each projection is fastened, generally by welding, so as to cornmunicate with the interior of the tube 14.

In constructing the wall 12 utilizing the tubular forms 10, a footing or base 24 is first formed between two side panels 26 in a generally conventional manner, however, prior to the setting of the footing concrete, a template 28, consisting of a pair of flat bars 29 having a plurality of offset elongated ribs 30 depending therefrom, is positioned on the upper surface of the hardening concrete so as to form a series of recesses 32 therein. The bars 29, spaced so as to allow the passage of reinforcing rods 31 therebetween, are releasably interconnected by cross-plates 33 screwed to the bars, this releasable interconnection facilitating both the application and removal of the template 28. The ribs 30 and consequently the recesses 32 are arranged in two rows with the ribs in each row of the template being spaced from each other and offset from the ribs 30 in the other row, and with the recesses 32 in `one row similarly being spaced from each other and oifset from the recesses 32 in the other row. These recesses 32 are of a size so as to receive the feet or extensions 20 of the tubes 14 and thereby properly locate the tubes 14 in two rows with the tubes in each row being otiset Ifrom the tubes in the other row'as will best be appreciated in FIGURES 4 and 5. It will be noted that this arrangement provides for a substantial overlap so Ias to insure the presence of a dead air space along any transverse path through the wall 12.

The upper ends 16 of the tubes 14, which incidentally are of a length so as to position the upper ends 16 and projections 22 above the upper edge of the wall 12, are releasably interconnected by bolt and nut assemblies 34 extended through the abutting projections 22 on the `adjacent tubes 14. With particular reference to FIGURE 4, it will be noted that the projections 22 on each tube 14 abut yagainst the projections 22 on the adjoining two tubes in the same row and the two opposed tubes in the other row, thus in effect securing each tube 14 to four adjacent tubes so as to provide a highly rigid structure. It will of course be appreciated that the projections 22 are of a size so as to, when abutting adjoining projections, locate the tubes 14 vertically upright from the corresponding footing recesses 32. The upper ends 16 of the tubes 14 are of course open so as to allow easy access thereto for mounting and removing the bolt and nut assemblies 34.

To complete the form work for the wall 12, a pair of side panels or form walls 36 are positioned in a conventional manner parallel to and spaced outwardly from the core forms 10. If found necessary, conventional bracing can be provided between the upper edges of the panels 36 and the upper ends of some of the tubes 14.

After all of the forms are properly located, concrete is introduced between the panels 36 so as to surround the tubes 14 and, once the concrete has partially set, the connecting assemblies 34 are removed and the tubes 14 raised vertically from the partially hardened concrete so as to provide the desired insulating cores 38 therein. It will of course be appreciated that the longitudinal taper of the tubes 14 facilitates and makes this removal possible. This removal can, if so desired, be further facilitated by suitably coating the exterior smooth surfaces of the tubes 14, however, this would not normally be necessary. The final step would of course be the removal of the side panels 36. Incidentally, it will be noted that in the finished wall 12 each of the cores 38 has all but the widest transverse portion thereof overlapped by the two adjacent cores 38 in the next row, thereby providing a substantial amount of air space along any transverse line through the wall 12 with only a minimum loss in wall strength. Also, another signicant advantage residing in the particular air space forms resides in the fact that the slight longitudinal taper thereof allows a stacking of the forms 10 for both transportation and storage purposes.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A device for forming a hollow core within a poured concrete wall comprising, an elongated tube, said tube being tapered slightly from one end to the other along the length thereof, and a plurality of projections located solely at spaced coplanar points about the wider end of said tube.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of said tube is smooth from the projections to the narrower end of the tube and is oval in cross-section so as to define a pair of opposed wide faces and a pair of relatively narrow side edges, said projections consisting of two projections projecting outward from one of said Wide faces adjacent the side edges thereof, and two projections projecting outward in opposite directions `from the side edges.

3. The device of claim 2 including a reduced extension projecting centrally from the narrower end of the tube.

4. The device of claim 1 including an aperture through each projection and the adjoining portion of the tube.

5. Structure for forming hollow core poured concrete walls comprising, a plurality of elongated hollow tubes, each of said tubes having a smooth uninterrupted outer surface, said tubes being slightly tapered from one end to the other, a plurality of outwardly extending projections on each tube at spaced coplanar points solely about the wider end thereof, said tubes :being positioned parallel to each other and arranged in two parallel rows, the tubes in one row being offset from the tubes in the other row, each tube having the projections thereon abutted against the projections of the adjoining tubes both in the same row and in the parallel row so as to space the tubes from each other, and means releasably securing each tube to the adjoining tubes.

6. The structure of claim 5 including an elongated footing, said footing having two rows of spaced recesses in the upper surface thereof, the narrow ends of the tubes being releasably fixed in position by said recesses.

7. The structure of claim 6 including a pair of flat wall forming panels, one located in spaced relation on each side of and generally parallel to the rows of tubes.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said tubes are oval in cross section and define a pair of opposed wide faces and a pair of relatively narrow side edges, said projections consisting of two projections projecting outward from one of said wide faces generally adjacent the side edges thereof for abutment against a pair of projections in the parallel row, one on a wide face of each of two adjoining tubes in this parallel row, and -two projections projecting outward in opposite directions from the side edges for abutment against similar projections on the side edges of the two adjoining tubes in the same row.

9. The structure of claim 5 wherein said means are engaged with the adjoining tubes through the abutting projections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 814,154 3/1906 McCahon 25-131 824,193 6/1906 Mueller 24-131 i 875,700 1/1908 Dumais 249-37 1,465,222 8/ 1923 Kirton 249-37 1,470,835 10/ 1923 Hathaway 249--35 1,889,268 11/1932 Sorensen 264-31 2,439,724 4/ 1948 Finley 249-122 2,472,068 6/ 1949 Farley 249-37 2,765,511 10/1956 Greene 264--31 2,902,745 9/1959 Brigard et al 249-176 FOREIGN PATENTS 586,242 12/ 1924 France.

J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT F. WHITE, Examiner.

I. A. FINLAYSON, G. A. KAP, R. D. BALDWIN,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. A DEVICE FOR FORMING A HOLOW CORE WITHIN A POURED CONCRETE WALL COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED TUBE, SAID TUBE BEING TAPERED SLIGHTLY FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF, AND A PLURALITY OF PROJECTIONS LOCATED SOLELY AT SPACED COPLANAR POINTS ABOUT THE WIDER END OF SAID TUBE. 